Man invites dancer to his room, is robbed, arrested in bizarre turn of events

Dancer arrested in time to be early for her trial date on previous charge

CORPUS CHRISTI - A 21-year-old woman was early for her court date, while a 32-year-old man was arrested after he told police he was robbed in a bizarre series of events.

The man called police at 3:52 a.m. Sunday to a motel in the 4500 block of Leopard Street to report a robbery. Police said the man told them that he met a dancer at the Cabaret men's club and invited her to his motel room when the club closed. When the woman arrived, she was with another woman. The man told police the women forced their way into the room and stole his wallet containing $400. Police said the man told them one of the women left in a white truck, which police found later and questioned the male driver.

The driver told police he saw a woman running on Leopard Street, thought she was in trouble and gave her a ride to a house on Omaha Street.

Police went to the home and talked with a woman, who initially denied any involvement. Police said she later admitted she was at the victim's motel room, but claimed that the other female took the money. The woman was returned to the motel, where she was identified by the man.

Starr Cruz was arrested on suspicion of robbery, police said and taken to Nueces County jail. That made Cruz early for her Monday court date on a September burglary of a habitation charge. In a plea agreement, Cruz was sentenced to 30 days in jail, three years deferred probation and a $500 fine, according to records on the Nueces County courthouse web site. Cruz still has a pending assault of a family member causing bodily injury charge from August along with the latest robbery charge outstanding.

Meanwhile, the man was also arrested by Corpus Christi police when they determined he was wanted on a warrant out of San Patricio County.